Exports of Dubai Chamber members exceeded a combined value of Dhs45 billion between June and August 2020, marking a 7.4 per cent increase compared to the March-May period during the same year.

Over 151,000 Certificates of Origin were issued by Dubai Chamber over the last three months (June-August), an 11.7 per cent rise from the 135,00 certificates issued during the three months prior (March-May).

The average number of exporters over the three months ending in August stood at 4,630, increasing 14 per cent from the 4,066 exporters accounted for between March and June 2020.

Hamad Buamim, President & CEO of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the latest export figures signal an uptick in activity within Dubai’s trade sector following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, improving market conditions and growing business confidence. He underlined the importance of foreign trade to Dubai’s economy and noted that the emirate remains resilient as it navigates new challenges created by the pandemic.

Buamim noted that the gradual re-opening of Dubai’s economy has been successful, thanks to the government’s swift and effective response in enforcing preventative health and safety measures, and introducing stimulus packages to help businesses deal with the impact of Covid-19. He added that government-led efforts to drive Dubai’s digital transformation in recent years, along with close cooperation between the public and private sectors, were key crucial factors that helped ensure business continuity and maintain economic competitiveness.

Dubai Chamber currently provides 50 e-services to the business community through its website and smart applications. The services include certificates of origin, membership, attestation, ATA Carnets, legal inquires, smart mediation, credit rating and CSR Label, among many others.

Earlier this year, the Chamber launched a new electronic attestation service and the authentication of signatures on documents, which raised the percentage of smart transformation of core services to 98 per cent.

Established in 1965, the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry is a non-profit public entity, whose mission is to represent, support and protect the interests of the business community in Dubai by creating a favourable business environment, supporting the development of business, and by promoting Dubai as an international business hub.

Earlier the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) launched the Dubai Chamber Interview Series, a virtual event series featuring live-one-on-one interviews with prominent local and international business figures from a wide range of industries.

The first event was headlined by Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General, Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, and attended by 600 participants from 60 countries, including Hamad Buamim, President & CEO of Dubai Chamber, Dubai Chamber members, local and regional business leaders and industry stakeholders.

During the event, Al Marri shared insights on key developments reshaping Dubai’s tourism sector as the city resumes business events. He pointed to Dubai’s proven track record in reacting quickly to market changes, and praised the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minster and Ruler of Dubai, which has enabled the emirate’s public and private sectors to respond effectively to new challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Dubai tourism sector has an infrastructure today that is second to none and our pro-activeness and well recognised cross functional deliverance of managing the pandemic within our borders, allowed us to be able to receive international travellers earlier, all with stringent safety protocols in place. This has put us in a first mover position to reopen to global markets as and when they reciprocally open, allowing the city to be ahead of the curve in gaining access to the international market,” said Al Marri.

Dubai is utilising innovative technologies designed to enhance the visitor reach and experience across various touchpoints in the city, Al Marri explained.

The personalisation and data driven approach is allowing the emirate to continue to open up more markets and segments and grow existing ones, which he says should put it on a growth trajectory as a top five global tourism hub for both business and leisure.

For this part, Buamim, said the Dubai Chamber Interview Series is the latest initiative launched by the Chamber to help companies navigate a new business landscape reshaped by Covid-19, and help them stay informed of important economic developments and ensure business continuity. Buamim noted that the series launch comes at a time when business in Dubai gets back on track as various segments of the economy reopen, while a return of confidence and consumer demand signals a brighter outlook for the months ahead.

WAM/Agencies